REVOLVING DOOR:
Jill Krop is stepping down from her role as BC Regional Director of Global News, ending a 23-year career with the network. Corus says her last day managing the newsrooms at Global BC, Global Okanagan and 980 CKNW will be Sept. 30. Krop, a fixture in the Vancouver market, started her 35-year career at Global BC predecessor BCTV in 1986, while she was still studying broadcast journalism at BCIT. She went on to work at CKPG Prince George and then the Atlantic Satellite Network (ASN) in Halifax, before returning to the West Coast and CHEK-TV Victoria in the mid-1990s. She re-joined BCTV in 1997 and was named News Director of Global BC and all news channel BC1 in 2015. Read more here.
Heather Anderson has anchored her last newscast for CTV Regina. The News at Six co-anchor had been with the station since 2014. Prior to that, Anderson was with Global Regina where she started her career in 2008.
Fred Seibert has resigned as a Director and Chief Creative Officer of WOW! Unlimited Media, as well as CEO of Frederator, the studio he founded in 1997. Effective Nov. 27, Seibert will continue to work with the company as an independent producer. Michael Hirsh, Chief Executive Officer of WOW!, will take over leadership of Frederator as its CEO, while Neil Chakravarti, COO of WOW!, becomes COO of Frederator. To ensure a successful transition, Seibert will stay involved as an executive producer on current major Frederator projects Castlevania and Bee & PuppyCat, as well as other upcoming projects.
Jordan Kunni has been named Executive Director of the Inuit Broadcasting Corporation (IBC). Kunni is a bilingual videojournalist and former reporter and editor for CBC North. He also runs his own production company, Konek Productions.
Jason Shanofer is joining 93.1 The One (CJLD-FM) Leduc, AB as an Account Manager, starting Sept 8. Up until last August, Shanofer was with Jim Pattison Broadcast Group in Edmonton for 16 years. He was most recently with the Canadian Traffic Network (CTN) in Edmonton.
Tamara Khandaker, who was part of layoffs at Corus Entertainment in July, has been hired as a producer on CBC Podcasts’ Party Lines: Party in the U.S.A. limited podcast on the American election. Khandaker was previously the co-host of Global News’ original daily news podcast Wait, There’s More.
Joe McFarland has been released by Corus’ 770 CHQR Calgary after a decade with the station. McFarland had been host of afternoon show, Calgary Today, for the last two years and prior to that held the title of News Director and Assistant Brand Director for five years.
Thank you to my family, friends, colleagues at @770CHQR & the listeners of @TheDriveOn770 for everything over the past decade. It has been an absolute pleasure serving #yyc & #Alberta. Maybe we will see you again some time. #radio pic.twitter.com/lJyqG71PmX
— Joe McFarland (@JoeMcFarland) August 27, 2020
Mandy Shew has crossed the hall at Bell Media Winnipeg, leaving her on-air duties at 103.1 Virgin Radio (CKMM-FM) to join 99.9 BOB FM (CFWM-FM). She’s now one-half of BOB Mornings with Beau & Mandy.
Katelyn Thomas is now a permanent web reporter at CTV Montreal. The 2020 Concordia University Journalism grad has been on the station’s digital desk since March.
The Logic is staffing up, welcoming Vanmala Subramaniam, who was most recently the Financial Post’s cannabis reporter. Aleksandra Sagan becomes The Logic’s first B.C. correspondent, arriving from The Canadian Press where she’s been covering business for the last four years. Sarmishta Subramanian has also joined The Logic editorial team part-time as consulting editor. Also an editor-at-large at Maclean’s, Subramanian is a founding editor of The Walrus, and has been a senior editor at the National Post, Saturday Night, and the Toronto Star, in addition to producing documentaries for CBC Radio.
RADIO & PODCAST:
Evanov Radio Group is gearing up to re-launch its Brantford, ON country music station, following a successful CRTC application to switch frequencies with its specialty Christian music station. Arise AM 1380 Christian Radio is already simulcasting its programming on both CKPC-AM and CFWC-FM, with Hot Country 93.9 set to make its FM debut this Friday at 4 p.m. ET. Evanov’s CRTC application argued that the country format would have a larger audience on the FM frequency and allow it to better compete with stations outside the market. Hot Country 93.9 will also benefit from a CRTC-approved power boost with CFWC-FM’s signal going from an average ERP of 250 to 1,700 watts. Craig Fox, who was previously heard on Jewel 92 (CKPC-FM) – Brantford’s third station in the market – steps in to host Hot Country Mornings. Casey Clarke’s syndicated show will be heard in middays, while The Bobby Bones Show will be heard weekday evenings. Read more here.
BJ & The Morning Crew, the highly-rated Stingray morning show that originates out of Q104 (CFRQ-FM) Halifax, is now being heard on Moncton’s C103 (CJMO-FM) as of this week. Steve Jones, SVP Brands & Content, at Stingray Radio, says the move was prompted by the departure of C103 morning man Troy Tait, who co-hosted mornings alongside Sean Crawford as “Crawdaddy and Taiter.” BJ & The Morning Crew also started airing on Q88.9 (CHNI-FM) Saint John earlier this year. Jones said no staff were released as a result of the change with morning show co-host Crawford moving to afternoons after Labour Day. Former afternoon host Geoff Walsh will now focus on the drive show in Saint John, while Mandy McDonald continues in middays. BJ & The Morning Crew is being adapted for C103 with local morning news, traffic, and other information, handled in Moncton by Brock Gallant. Read more here.
The CRTC has granted approval for a new community radio station for Vernon, BC. Run by the Vernon Community Radio Society, the not-for-profit will operate the station as 97.9 Valley FM under the call letters CFAV-FM. The station will operate with an average effective radiated power (ERP) of 602 watts. Programming will consist of spoken word, news, and a mix of music genres. The society said in a press release that local musicians, guests and community content will play a large part in the station’s programming. In its application, the group also noted that it intends to establish a modest studio facility to record local talent.
The National Campus and Community Radio Association (NCRA/ANREC) says campus and community broadcasters can now apply for COVID-19 Emergency Support through the Community Radio Fund of Canada. Canadian Heritage is making $2 million available to help support campus and community radio broadcasters who have also seen critical losses in advertising and fundraising revenue.
Edison Research says the absence of a commute, work disruptions, and other COVID-19 realities have contributed to changes in how and when people are listening to audio, as consumption on digital devices passed the 50% threshold for the first time during quarantine. Sharing the latest findings from its Podcast Consumer Tracker and ongoing Share of Ear study, the study also found that audio listening has shifted to later in the day. Prior to the pandemic, 50% of Americans reported listening to audio by 7:15 a.m. That’s now shifted 45 minutes forward to 8:30 a.m. Meantime, weekly podcast listeners’ time spent listening has increased by 45 minutes. Read more here.
Benztown’s Coronavirus Radio Ideas Awards is open for voting until Sept. 17. Among the Canadian nominees are 101.5 EZ Rock (CILK-FM) Kelowna’s “Good News Okanagan” for Best Community Spirit; CFOX Vancouver’s “Humans are Emerging” in the Best Parody category; and “Get Naked” from 96.9 JACK FM (CJAQ-FM) Calgary for Best Social Media Video. Vote here.
LISTEN: On the latest episode of Broadcast Dialogue – The Podcast, Kevin Getz, who just celebrated his one-year anniversary at 102.1 the Edge (CFNY-FM) Toronto. Getz has dropped new album, On Air, what’s essentially a protest album of radio’s disposability. While the medium’s roots are in the moment, Getz believes there is a lot of great material falling under the radar that should have a chance to live on.
LISTEN: On the latest Sound Off Podcast, Matt Cundill is on the road in Quebec this week and [taking a cue from Kevin Getz’s album release] shares his thoughts on Canadian radio regulations and monetizing the art of the spoken word.
The Caring for Kids Radiothon on Aug. 27, heard on CJAD 800, 95.9 Virgin Radio (CJFM-FM), CHOM 97 7 and TSN 690 (CKGM-AM), raised $1,212,562 for the Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation. Live on-air from outside the Children’s P.K. Subban Atrium, 19 young patients’ families shared personal stories of how their lives were touched by the exceptional care of the hospital’s caring professionals. Since 2004, the event has raised over $25 million.
The Bay 88.7FM (CKAR-FM), Muskoka’s only not-for-profit, community radio station, raised $33,750 for Hospice Huntsville on Aug. 28 during a one-day Radiothon that aired from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Typically, The Bay would host their own Radiothon to raise money for much-needed station equipment upgrades, however in light of COVID-19, decided that it would put its efforts into raising money for organizations that have had to cancel fundraising events. More than 60 volunteers, sponsors and staff made the event possible.
Momentum Media Networks is now the official distributor of Smashprep in Canada. The recently-launched UK-based platform is an up-to-the-second show prep dashboard that gives on-air talent something new to say about every artist. It’s available either as a personal subscription or station subscription with up to five logins. For barter options, contact Michael@momentummediamarketing.com.
SIGN OFFS:
Scott Phillips, on Aug. 27, following a sudden illness. Born into the “family” business, Phillips’ father Merv was the Vice-President and General Manager of Monarch Broadcasting. Scott started his career at CFFR Red Deer, later moving to Grand Prairie and then CISN Edmonton. He landed at Country 105 (CKRY-FM) Calgary in 1990, where he would go on to a 29-year career that included many years as midday host, music director, and assistant program director. An 11-time Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) Award nominee, he was named Music Director of the Year – Major Market in 2008, 2012, 2013 and 2014. He also helped launch Country 105’s Caring for Kids Radiothon, in support of Alberta Children’s Hospital, which has gone on to raise $35 million. Phillips retired from Corus Radio earlier this year, with his last afternoon drive shift on Feb. 17.
Robert Scussolin, 62, on Aug. 20 after a brief fight with cancer. Scussolin worked at YourTV/Cogeco in Windsor-Essex for 38 years and was the Programming and Community Relations Director at the time of his passing. He was involved in organizing and broadcasting many local events over the years, including the 2017 Mastercard Memorial Cup, 2015 CHL Canada Russia Series, 2014 Ontario Summer Games and 2012 World U-17 Hockey Challenge. He also assisted in the design and installation of broadcast components in the WFCU Centre in Windsor, which opened in 2007.
Lyndon Grove, 88, on Aug. 21. Grove started his radio career as a disc jockey at CHAB Moose Jaw in 1949 at the tender age of 15. In 1956, he moved on to Vancouver, working as a copywriter and writer on weekend comedy show “Just for Fun” at CKNW. A gag writing gig with CKLG Vancouver followed and then a five-year stint with CHAN-TV. Grove went on to work with CHQM Vancouver, served as an editor at Vancouver Life, The Westender and the Vancouver Courier, and wrote and did voice work for “The Dilettante” and “Show Me the Good Parts” on CFMI-FM Vancouver. He also taught copywriting at BCIT and Langara College in the 1960s and early 1970s. In addition to working in advertising and communications with Palmer Jarvis and Torresan Communications, Grove was an avid writer, authoring several books including “Pacific Pilgrims,” a history of the New Westminster Anglican diocese.
FILM & TV:
OMNI Television launched new Filipino and Arabic newscasts this week, supported by 25 new editorial, digital and videojournalist positions. The daily, 30-minute OMNI News: Arabic Edition and OMNI News: Filipino Edition feature local, national, and international news, and are being produced in-house at OMNI’s studios in Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, and Edmonton. Joining the Rogers Sports & Media channel’s broadcasts in Cantonese, Mandarin, Italian and Punjabi, the network now produces third-language news in six languages. Among the talent joining OMNI are Mai Mazloum, who formerly worked with the Middle East Broadcasting Center (MBC); former The Filipino Channel (TFC) reporter Marie Pacheco; Rhea Santos, who previously hosted GMA Network’s morning show Unang Hirit; and B.C.-based reporter and videojournalist Theresa Barrera. Read more here.
Historic launch. OMNI Television begins Arabic language National newscast #OMNI #Rogers pic.twitter.com/NMYkkt03pR
— David Battistelli (@dbattistelli23) September 2, 2020
Telefilm Canada is suspending any further use of the Success Index for the 2020-21 fiscal year, due to the negative impact of COVID-19 on the Canadian feature film industry. The Success Index, which measures commercial, cultural and industrial success, also computes individual company scores that determine some automatic financing amounts for the following fiscal year. Telefilm says all automatic financing decisions will move to a selective process in fiscal 2021-22 as it accelerates industry consultation announced earlier this year, which will also inform optimization of other financing programs.
Canada Media Fund’s newly-published 2019-20 Annual Report, says CMF programs triggered $1.4B in industry activity across the country. It also finds that one dollar of CMF funding generated an additional $4.12 in production activity, the highest leverage ratio since the CMF was created in 2010. CMF funding programs contributed $349M to finance the development, production, promotion and export of 1,483 television and digital media projects. Looking at overall English-language viewing trends, domestically produced programs accounted for 34% of full-day viewing in English-language television, down one percentage point from the previous year. During peak viewing hours, 31% of English-language television viewing was devoted to Canadian programming, also down by one percentage point year-over-year. Total hours tuned for CMF-financed English-language content increased by 2.7%, marking the first increase in viewing since 2014-15. The top-performing CMF-funded English-language program Private Eyes averaged over 1.2 million viewers for its 12-episode run. Next was new CBC drama Coroner at just under 1.2 million, followed by Murdoch Mysteries, also at just under 1.2 million. The top domestic program overall was the NBA Finals Toronto v. Golden State Game 6 at 7.4 million (58% share of audience). Canadian programs continued to account for most of the viewing in the French-language market with a 59% share of full-day viewing, up one percentage point from the previous year.
Canadian Heritage Min. Steven Guilbeault will host a virtual public consultation with the Canadian screen-based production community on Sept. 16, as part of the department’s post-pandemic recovery plan for the cultural industries. CMPA President & CEO Reynolds Mastin and the AQPM’s Hélène Messier will be moderating the discussion. Those interested in attending can RSVP, here.
Bell Media says the English and French-language programs of the Harold Greenberg Fund will begin transitioning following the completion of seven years of financial support as result of the Bell/Astral transaction in 2013. The English-language program will continue for at least the next 12 months with the support of Crave as the fund invites additional partners to invest in its future. Like other funds supported by tangible benefits regulated by the CRTC, the French-language committee for Le Fonds Harold Greenberg has chosen to complete its mandate, and will wind down operations over the next six months. With considerable reserve funds, the program will focus exclusively on Fiction Feature Film Production. As of Feb. 28, 2021, the French-language program will close and transfer any remaining funds to another certified independent production fund. Since its inception in 1986, the French and English-language programs of the Fund have supported almost 5,000 projects and initiatives, for an investment of over $118 million to date.
TSN has announced additional broadcast details for the remaining games of the Eastern Conference Semifinal series between the Toronto Raptors and Boston Celtics. TSN’s linear television broadcast coverage continues Sept. 3 with Game 3: Toronto @ Boston, beginning at 6 p.m. ET on TSN and TSN 1050. Find the network broadcast schedule here. French-language coverage of the Raptors-Celtics series is available on RDS. Delivering the call for all Raptors playoff games is play-by-play commentator Matt Devlin and game analyst Jack Armstrong. The NBA ON TSN team features host Rod Black, alongside Canadian Basketball Hall of Famer Leo Rautins and former Raptors coach Sam Mitchell. TSN’s coverage features reports from SPORTSCENTRE’s Kate Beirness, interviews by SPORTS AM BY TSN host Kayla Grey, and frequent updates on the team from TSN Raptors reporter Josh Lewenberg.
Sportsnet’s television, streaming and radio coverage also includes play-by-play announcer Matt Devlin and analyst Leo Rautins, with Sportsnet & SN Now airing Game 4 (Sept. 5) and Game 6 (Sept. 9). From the Studio, host Brad Fay, NBA insider Michael Grange and analysts Sherman Hamilton and Alvin Williams provide analysis and insights, while reporters Danielle Michaud and Eric Smith have game-time updates and headlines. Toronto’s 680 News will also air Game 4, 5 (Sept. 7) and 7 (Sept. 11).
Felix & Paul Studios has announced a co-financing and distribution deal for the upcoming season of its Emmy-nominated immersive series Space Explorers, entitled The ISS Experience, produced in partnership with TIME Studios. The newly-formed Global XR Content Telco Alliance is a co-financing partner of the production that chronicles life on the International Space Station, including the first-ever spacewalk captured in fully-immersive, live-action virtual reality (VR). Felix & Paul Studios and TIME Studios have been filming aboard the International Space Station with 3D, 360° virtual reality cameras since Jan. 2019, capturing the experience of various astronauts, including the recent arrival of the SpaceX Falcon9 commercial crew. The premiere of Space Explorers: The ISS Experience will take place this fall, coinciding with the 20th anniversary of continuous human existence aboard the International Space Station.
CHEK-TV Victoria will premiere Before I’m Gone on Sunday, Sept. 6, an hour-long doc from M1 Films profiling legendary race car builder Dave Smith. Airing and streaming commercial-free, the doc follows Smith’s journey after a cancer diagnosis, to fulfill his bucket list wish to compete in the Shockwave Seats Canada 200 auto-racing event. Immediately following the doc at 7 p.m., CHEK will air a live broadcast of the race from Western Speedway, taking place without spectators in the stands. CHEK is partnering with Roll Focus to bring the multi-camera production to television. CHEK’s Jeff King will host the pre-race show beginning at 7 p.m., while Cole Sorenson, who is also the voice of Western Speedway, will call the race.
ONLINE & DIGITAL MEDIA:
PwC’s Global Entertainment & Media Outlook 2020–2024 says the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated and amplified ongoing shifts in consumer behaviour, in some cases pulling forward digital disruption to a level that wouldn’t have been seen for many years. With the pandemic and social distancing intensifying digitalization, the report says over-the-top (OTT) video has seen a global revenue surge of 26.0% in 2020. It expects OTT revenue to double in size from US$46.4B in 2019 to US$86.8B in 2024. PwC also says global data consumption is another beneficiary of the digital acceleration, jumping by 33.8% in 2020, and projected to more than double from 1.9 quadrillion megabytes (MB) in 2019 to 4.9 quadrillion MB in 2024.
The Canada Media Fund (CMF) is making $10M available to interactive digital media companies. The funding is part of the $27.8M designated for the Canadian audiovisual sector as part of Phase 2 of the COVID-19 Emergency Support Fund for Cultural, Heritage and Sport Organizations. It’s being made available to applicants who haven’t previously received COVID-19 emergency support from the CMF Allocation. Click here to access eligibility criteria and here to apply by Sept. 25.
Bell Media is expanding MTV content in Canada to additional platforms, including Crave in both English and French, and later this fall everywhere CTV on-demand content can be found. Beginning this week, more than 500 episodes from the MTV library, including shows like The Hills, Pimp My Ride, and MTV Unplugged, are available to Crave subscribers. Later this fall, dozens of additional titles will roll out with current series like Teen Mom 2, 16 and Recovering, and the new season of Ghosted, to become available after their broadcast run on the MTV linear channel.
FloSports is exclusively broadcasting the 2020 Tour de France in Canada. The event is being broadcast in Canada on cycling-dedicated streaming platform, FloBikes, marking the first time the Tour de France is available on a digital-only OTT platform in Canada. Featuring on-location reporting, on-camera commentary and analysis, as well as a concurrent French-language broadcast and live in-app watch parties, a new fantasy league is also available to FloSports subscribers in both Canada and the U.S.
REGULATORY & DIGITAL MEDIA:
Cogeco Executive Chairman Louis Audet and the Audet family, who hold a controlling interest in both Cogeco Inc. and Cogeco Communications Inc., have rebuffed a $10.3 billion takeover bid from Altice USA and Rogers Communications Inc. Under terms of the proposal, Rogers was to acquire Cogeco’s Canadian assets for $4.9 billion. In an effort to gain support, Altice said in a release that it had offered the Audet family “a sizeable premium” on their shares amounting to $800 million CAD for their controlling ownership interest. In their own release issued Wednesday afternoon, the Audet family said it had the unsolicited proposal reviewed by Gestion Audem Inc., a company controlled by members of the family, indicating “that it does not intend to sell its shares and will not support the proposal.” Read more here.
Rogers Communications has announced the expansion of its 5G network to more than 50 new towns and cities, with a goal to reach more than 60 markets by end of year. The expansion includes 18 cities and towns in Ontario; 26 communities in British Columbia; in addition to Calgary, Edmonton, Fort McMurray, Grande Prairie, Lethbridge, Regina, Saskatoon, Gatineau, Quebec City and Trois-Rivières.
Xplornet Communications Inc. has announced the closure of an agreement to acquire New Brunswick-based fibre provider, F6 Networks Inc. F6 Networks owns and operates a 1,600 km fibre backbone network in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, providing services to enterprise customers and carriers in the region. Xplornet says the acquisition positions the company as a significant independent fibre provider in Atlantic Canada, “with F6’s fibre-rich network supporting Xplornet’s current and future hybrid fibre wireless deployment plans across the Maritimes.”
Rogers and Rogers Sports & Media have been announced as Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital’s first telecommunications and broadcast media partners, respectively, for the Dear Everybody campaign. Rogers has committed to featuring people with disabilities more prominently in its consumer advertising, including television, out-of-home, digital, and social. In its fourth year, the Dear Everybody campaign is about being more inclusive and removing the stigma around disabilities, particularly for kids and youth.
CBC Ombudsman Jack Nagler has released his annual report covering the period from Apr. 1, 2019 to Mar. 31, 2020. The office received 6,675 comments, complaints and expressions of concern, with 1,112 sent to programmers for a response. Nagler says those numbers are considerably higher than a year ago, in part due to it being a federal election year, but also due to a protest campaign around documentary, Drag Kids, which aired on CBC Docs POV. It drew more than 2,000 complaints, as well as a separate petition that generated 17,315 automated emails to Nagler’s office. In the report, Nagler says the documentary’s journalistic standards were not the issue, with almost every complaint focused on CBC’s decision to air the profile of child drag performers. In the period up to Mar. 31, there were also 204 complaints to the office regarding pandemic coverage. “Viewers had competing desires to see the events most relevant to their own communities, and CBC’s decisions came under scrutiny,” wrote Nagler, who expects the public broadcaster’s pandemic coverage to feature prominently in next year’s report.
BROADCAST TECH & ENGINEERING:
YANGAROO Inc. has announced a multi-year agreement with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). The Toronto-based workflow management and media distribution solutions provider will supply the NAACP with the YANGAROO Awards platform, an award show workflow management solution that facilitates and administers online submissions and judging and balloting management processes, beginning with the 52nd NAACP Image Awards in 2021. Adoption of the YANGAROO Awards platform will reduce waste by eliminating shipping of tens of thousands of screener discs and other physical media, providing a more efficient, secure, and eco-friendly awards determination process. The NAACP Image Awards join over 17 other major awards shows that rely on the YANGAROO Awards platform including The GRAMMYS, The Latin GRAMMYS, The Emmys (Daytime, News and Documentary, and Sports), The Golden Globes, The Academy of Country Music Awards, The MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs), BET Awards, JUNOS, The PGA Awards, The BET Hip Hop Awards, The Soul Train Awards, and the Tony Awards.
ARHT Media Inc., the Toronto-based developer, producer and distributor of low latency hologram and digital content, has entered into an Reseller and Integrator Agreement with Matrix Video Communications Corp (MVCC). Acting as an authorized Reseller and Integrator of ARHT’s technology in Canada, MVCC will offer ARHT’s HoloPresence platform and Virtual Global Stage livestream solution primarily for permanent installations with government, education, sports stadium and enterprise clients.
Bell Media has unveiled a new iteration of its Strategic Audience Management (SAM) tool. Mark Finney, VP of Strategic Sales, says SAM now includes attribution on linear television, a first in Canada. “This enables us to isolate the households to which ads have been delivered – all in an aggregated, de-identified and privacy compliant way – and look at how those ads affected web traffic from those households, all in a simplified, timely process,” said Finney. “It provides rich, actionable insights and ultimately, it’s a step change in proving TV’s effectiveness.” SAM is also now accessible by clients via a self-serve portal where they can engage with the platform from purchasing customized audiences using First Party Data to accessing industry segments and traditional demo buying.
